The first installment
I know that many here will not agree with what the Reformationists understood but I ask that at least for the time being that those participating in this conversation would refrain from criticizing those ideas. For now, I am recapping or rather attempting to recap what Schaeffer has stated, and although we may not agree with the philosophies, what I am interested in is a discussion of Shaeffer's interpretation of the history of philosophy.
Thomas Aquinas, (1225 - 1274) philosopher, theologian, began a new way of thinking in which man's intellect was not fallen even though his will was. This thought opened the door to the idea that man's intellect was autonomous. Philosophy consisted of:
- rationalism - beginning from oneself, gathering information concerning the particulars, formulating the universals (general or abstract concepts or terms considered absolute or axiomatic)
- rational - a form of thinking in which A = non A (antithesis)
- the desire to construct a unified field of knowledge
This philosophy stands in contrast to the Reformation's way of thinking about man. They understood that the Fall of man was total and that only God was autonomous. Final and sufficient knowledge rested in the Bible and salvation was of God alone. The Scriptures give the key to the knowledge of God and to the knowledge of men - not an exhaustive knowledge, but a true and unified knowledge.
Man knows his origin and who he is (created in the image of God). In a space-time point of history man fell and stands morally guilty before God but NOT nothing. Christ died for a man who had true moral guilt because he had made a real and true choice.
Because Christianity believes in a reasonable God and that this God created the universe - two things are true. One, we can find out about this universe. Two, we have an objective reality in which something exists, history exists, and cause and effect exists. These truths inspired man to discover and investigate the real, natural world.
This is, I hope accurately portrayed, the basis from which Schaeffer starts his history.
[This message has been edited by Chara, 12-17-2002]
[This message has been edited by Chara, 12-17-2002]